America’s newest tennis star Iva Jovic saw her dream run at the Australian Open come to a screeching halt on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old Californian was dismantled by a ruthless Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, falling 6-3, 6-0 in the blistering heat in Melbourne.
It was a harsh reality check for the teenager, who has captivated the tennis world over the last fortnight with her fearless play and poise off the court.
Facing the world No 1 on Rod Laver Arena, Jovic struggled to handle the Belarusian’s raw power.
After battling to 3-6 in the opening set, Jovic’s resistance crumbled in the second as Sabalenka raced to a 5-0 lead, eventually closing out the match with ease.
Despite the heavy defeat, Jovic’s breakout performance in Melbourne has cemented her status as the country’s next big hope.
USA star Iva Jovic, 18, was dismantled by a ruthless Aryna Sabalenkain the quarterfinals
It was a harsh reality check for the teen, who has captivated the tennis world in the last week
Ranked 29th coming into the match, the youngster had already dispatched Yulia Putintseva and upset No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini to reach the last eight.
Her run has been all the more impressive given the scrutiny she has faced regarding the political turmoil back home.
As the US grapples with protests following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents, Jovic made headlines over the weekend for her mature plea for unity.
While compatriots like Ben Shelton offered cryptic messages, Jovic faced the media directly.
‘I hope going forward that we can have a lot more peace in our country and more kindness in the way we speak to each other,’ she told reporters on Saturday.
The daughter of Serbian immigrants, Jovic also credited her rapid rise to advice from her idol, Novak Djokovic, who urged her to ‘open up the court’ and ‘find more width’.
Iva Jovic spoke to the media and was asked for her thoughts on the current state of America
Her run has been all the more impressive given the scrutiny she has faced regarding the political turmoil back home
While that tactical advice helped her past Paolini, it was not enough to stifle the defending champion on Tuesday.
Sabalenka moves on to the semifinals, while Jovic returns to the United States as a genuine rising star.
Having made the semifinals in Auckland and the final in Hobart earlier this month, her 2026 season has started at a jet-fueled pace.
She may have been outclassed by the world’s best today, but Iva Jovic has officially announced herself on the global stage.
